Arthritis is a term that have originated from the combination of the Greek words "arthro-", which means joint, and "itis-", which means inflammation. In plural term, arthritis is arthrides. Arthritis is defined as a group of conditions which include injury to the joints of the body. It is considered as the primary cause of disability among people over 55 years of age.
There are many types arthritis. According to experts, there have been over 100 types of the ailment and this number is continuously growing. The different forms of the illness also have different inherent causes. The most typical form of the disorder is osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis or OA , is characterized as a degenerative joint disease. OA is medically believed to be a result of infection in the joints, trauma to the joints and age. Recent advancements in the medical field strongly suggest that abnormal anatomy could also contribute to the early development of OA.
The Symptoms
Osteoarthritis is the most typical form of arthritis. It is typically associated to old age. The disease is usually caused by the basic wear and tear occurring on the joints as well as straining happening to a joint or joints. Symptoms for arthritis that are typical to OA will be different from person to person. OA is also claimed to be a progressive diseases, one that gets worse through time.
For some people, the condition may result in an incapacitating state, however for some people there have been very few symptoms for arthritis. Pain is the most basic symptom of OA. It is typically brought about by doing bodily activities, although pain is still felt even when the body is at rest. Other symptoms for arthritis typical for OA include body growths experienced at the joints and abnormal angulations, snapping of the joints, loss of movement and stiffness and swelling experienced in the joints.
The symptoms of arthritis in the knee brought about by OA include changes in the actual appearance of the knee. Some people affected by this ailment may become knock-kneed or bow-legged. If the affected joint is not moved regularly, the tendency is that it will grow weaker and sometimes, it may also shrink. OA on the hip may bring about pains to the affected person which may cause one to limp. Pains are also experienced to the areas around the groin or inner thigh. In cases of OA in the hip, the affected leg may also look shorter. Affected persons may have a hard time putting on their shoes and tying the laces.
Persons who are affected by OA in the fingers will be experiencing breakdown of their cartilage. This will eventually cause bone spurs in the joints. The spurs which are found in the end joints of the fingers are referred to as Herberden's nodes. These are commonly experienced in most women and sometimes, even as early as 40 years of age. Bouchard nodes on the other hand are spurs which are found in the middle joints of the fingers.
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